If you have ever had the opportunity to move to a new property and plant new gardens, I think you'll know how I'm feeling right now. In my lifetime I've been fortunate enough to start new gardens at least six times,...
C. L. Fornari's Blog
I Love Rutgers Devotion and Rutgers Obsession Basil
Name: Rutgers Obsession DMR and Rutgers Devotion DMR Basil Type of Plant: Basil plants that have been bred (no, not GMO!) to grow prolifically and...
When Life Mingles With Art
In the 1970's my mother-in-law, Misa Fornari, lived on Long Island. A friend of hers was a rep for various artists and crafts people, and at some...
I Love Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’
Name: Cosmos sulphureus 'Bright Lights' aka sulphur cosmos. Type of Plant: Summer-flowering annual for full sun. Why I Love/Hate this plant...
Garden Sushi With Flower Power
One of the gifts that the pandemic brought to my house is the return to making our own sushi rolls. In the early months of not shopping much I found...
Love Plants and Gardens? Want to Write, Speak, or Podcast About It?
Sometime ago I put up the graphic posted below, about how I came to be a garden communicator. Although I've always loved plants and gardens, it...
Preserving Home Grown Garlic
In this area the garlic is commonly pulled from the garden in early July. We bundle ours up and hang it in our shed for two to three weeks to cure,...
I Love Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ragra’ aka Cityline® Rio
Name: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ragra' aka Cityline® Rio Type of Plant: This mophead hydrangea is a shorter-growing plant that stays under 3 feet...
I Love Soiree Kawaii™ Catharanthus
Name: Soiree Kawaii Catharanthus Type of Plant: Catharanthus is more commonly known as flowering vinca, although this is confusing since there...
I Love The Oso Easy Petit Pink Rose
Name: Rosa 'ZLEMarianne Yoshida' aka Oso Easy Petit Pink landscape rose. Type of Plant: A shrub rose that stays under 4 feet and is repeat...
The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival 2020
After some uncertainty this spring, it's with great pleasure that I tell you that the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival is opening on Friday, July 10th....
Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ aka big blue sea holly
Name: Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ aka big blue sea holly Type of Plant: A striking perennial for full sun and well-drained soil. Hardy in Zones...
I Love Tanacetum parthenium aka feverfew
Name: Tanacetum parthenium aka feverfew Type of Plant: A traditional cottage garden perennial (although it can be short-lived) that flowers in...
Nepeta cataria aka catnip
Name: Nepeta cataria aka catnip Type of Plant: A generally short-lived perennial that can self-seed and naturalize in full sun gardens. Why I...
I Love Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea
Name: Digitalis purpurea aka foxglove Type of Plant: A biennial, which means that the plant grows from a seed one year, blooms the next (and...
I Love Diervilla
Name: Diervilla lonicera and Diervilla splendens cultivars with dark foliage. Type of Plant: Native shrub that’s hardy to zone 3, grows well in...
I Love Zizia aurea – aka golden Alexander
Name: Zizia aurea aka golden Alexander Type of Plant: A native perennial (hardy in Zone 3 to 8) that has yellow flowers in late May into early...
Rhubarb Cookies and Cocktails
If you're growing rhubarb, you've got the main ingredient for a pie or crisp. But don't stop with these traditional uses of the rhubarb stems....
Are Books The New Virtual Hug?
If there's one good thing about the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that we're reminded to tell people that we care about them. People are gathering for...